Yardbarker: Tony La Russahttp://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/players/tony_la_russa/126686
Recent articles about Tony La Russaen-usTony La Russa says Cardinals ’embarrassed’ Albert PujolsThe 2011 World Series marked the final games in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform for both manager Tony La Russa and first baseman Albert Pujols (though La Russa would return for the 2012 All-Star Game).La Russa retired and Pujols signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. On Friday, Brenden Schaeffer‏ of KMOV quoted La Russa, who criticized the Cardinals for the offer that they gave Pujols. Putting some of the pieces together, the timing of La Russa’s statement is odd.Schaeffer later stated that he wasn’t sure what the offer that “embarrassed” Pujols was. But an ESPN report from 2011 quoted Pujols’ wife, and indicated that a five-year, $130 million offer is what bothered the Pujols family. Pujols and his wife were specifically bothered by the length. Now that we’ve got the benefit of hindsight, that seems like it would have been a much better deal for the Cardinals, Angels, or whatever team wanted to sign Pujols.From 2012-2016, Pujols slashed at .266/.325/.474 and averaged02 Jun 2017 12:43:36 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/tony_la_russa_says_cardinals_embarrassed_albert_pujols/s1_12680_24082897
http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/tony_la_russa_says_cardinals_embarrassed_albert_pujols/s1_12680_24082897Tony La Russa says Cardinals ’embarrassed’ Albert Pujolshttp://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/tony_la_russa_says_cardinals_embarrassed_albert_pujols/s1_12680_24082897http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/7/f756d63cc24f4ea966d7e8707eccae82c25358ee/top_story/10086289.jpgLong-time White Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson to retire following 2018 seasonStarting in 2019, Chicago White Sox games will have a different sound to them. The club announced on Wednesday that long time announcer Ken (Hawk) Harrelson will retire following the 2018 season. Chicago also announced that Harrelson’s 2018 schedule will be limited to “primarily Sunday home games.”“It has been an amazing honor for me to deliver White Sox baseball to generations of fans,” Harrelson said in a statement, per the Chicago Tribune. “I cannot thank the fans of Chicago, the White Sox and Jerry Reinsdorf enough for allowing me this fantastic career and for agreeing to my role for the 2018 season and beyond.”Harrelson is known for many catchphrases. Included among those are his emphatic “He gone” catchphrase after strikeouts and a drawn out “You can put it on the board…yes” when a Sox player hits a home run. Harrelson has often been called baseball’s biggest homer, which he takes as a compliment.Harrelson played from 1963-1971, suiting up for the Kansas City Athletics (two sti31 May 2017 15:28:18 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/long_time_white_sox_broadcaster_hawk_harrelson_to_retire_following_2018_season/s1_12680_24068641
http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/long_time_white_sox_broadcaster_hawk_harrelson_to_retire_following_2018_season/s1_12680_24068641Long-time White Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson to retire following 2018 seasonhttp://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/long_time_white_sox_broadcaster_hawk_harrelson_to_retire_following_2018_season/s1_12680_24068641http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/8/6857a7c0205469d7c510dc2ef420ab4b584544a2/top_story/GettyImages-453261368.jpgDiamondbacks fire manager Chip Hale, Tony La Russa on hot seatIt appears the rumors were true, and the Arizona Diamondbacks have fired manager Chip Hale, as well as general manager Dave Stewart.
The team announced the news on Monday afternoon:
OFFICIAL: The #Dbacks have parted ways with Sr. Vice President & GM Dave Stewart and Manager Chip Hale.
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 3, 2016
This isn’t much of a surprise, the (69-93) Diamondbacks finished just one game ahead of the abysmal last-place Padres, and were one of the worst teams in the majors at home (33-48).
The roster has talent on it, but they’re not getting the results they need.
But what about chief baseball officer Tony La Russa? He hired these guys, and he’s been the chessmaster controlling the pieces, so he clearly deserves a good chunk of the blame. He may go down as the team cleans house as well, but the jury is still out.
I'm told the Dbacks are "still deciding" what will happen with Tony La Russa.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) October 3, 2016
Prediction: La Russa will be 03 Oct 2016 21:42:14 -0400http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/diamondbacks_fire_manager_chip_hale_tony_la_russa_on_hot_seat/s1_12740_22025524
http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/diamondbacks_fire_manager_chip_hale_tony_la_russa_on_hot_seat/s1_12740_22025524Diamondbacks fire manager Chip Hale, Tony La Russa on hot seathttp://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/diamondbacks_fire_manager_chip_hale_tony_la_russa_on_hot_seat/s1_12740_22025524http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.pngTony La Russa talks mysterious ‘issue’ with Shelby MillerMost people felt the Arizona Diamondbacks gave up too much to acquire Shelby Miller from the Atlanta Braves over the winter, and the deal looks even worse now that Miller has been optioned to Triple-A.
To say that Miller has struggled would be an understatement. He posted a 2-9 record and a whopping 7.14 ERA through the first half of the season, making him one of the worst starting pitchers in the majors. In an interview with Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 Friday, D-Backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa spoke about a mysterious â€œissueâ€* Miller has been dealing with.
â€œThere was something that, and I know this is really going to sound kind of yucky and kind of mysterious, but there was an issue that came up,â€* La Russa said, via Paola Boivin of The Arizona Republic. â€œBelieve me, it was not illegal, it wasnâ€™t anything dramatically character-wise that was a problem. But there was something that came into the way that Shelby prepared that worked against him and not for him.â€18 Jul 2016 05:57:53 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/tony_la_russa_talks_about_mysterious_issue_with_shelby_miller/s1_127_21335647
http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/tony_la_russa_talks_about_mysterious_issue_with_shelby_miller/s1_127_21335647Tony La Russa talks mysterious ‘issue’ with Shelby Millerhttp://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/tony_la_russa_talks_about_mysterious_issue_with_shelby_miller/s1_127_21335647http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/8/18e7cf3b07c01b22cb00f1203e761ce84465ff48/top_story/GettyImages-544221124.jpgLa Russa entered broadcast booth to dispute commentsThings have gotten a bit tense during the series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks. So tense, in fact, that Diamondbacks chief baseball officer Tony La Russa invaded the Pirates’ broadcast booth during a game to dispute on-air comments.
Things started when Pirates reliever Arquimedes Caminero hit two Diamondbacks players in the head Tuesday night. While the pitches were unintentional, Arizona manager Chip Hale was critical, saying that Caminero shouldn’t be pitching if his control is so poor that he can’t avoid hitting players in the head.
The Pirates’ TV broadcast made comments about La Russa’s history as a manager, stating that he liked to retaliate in situations like this. La Russa heard the comments and barged into the booth Tuesday during the game to have a word with the Pirates’ broadcast crew.
“I never have stood for inaccuracies, so I corrected the inaccuracies,” La Russa said, via Jeremy Cluff of AZCentral.
“It’s about taking responsibility. If you’re g26 May 2016 11:17:24 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/tony_la_russa_entered_pirates_broadcast_booth_during_game_to_dispute_comments/s1_127_20987479
http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/tony_la_russa_entered_pirates_broadcast_booth_during_game_to_dispute_comments/s1_127_20987479La Russa entered broadcast booth to dispute commentshttp://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/tony_la_russa_entered_pirates_broadcast_booth_during_game_to_dispute_comments/s1_127_20987479http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/1/71ba51d2650d7d14a1638838aa299f109bde27f4/top_story/GettyImages-500982896.jpgMeow: Tony La Russa mugs for camera in photo-op with ‘Grumpy Cat’ (pic)
Tony La Russa isn’t as highly visible in his role as Arizona Diamondbacks Chief Baseball Office compared to his managing days, but anytime he shows up at the ballpark he attracts attention … especially when it involves an absolutely and absurdly comical photo-op with a feline and Internet phenomenon known as “Grumpy Cat.”
The Diamondback held a “Grumpy Cat” promotion on Monday night at Chase Field, during which the cat “threw” out the ceremonial first pitch.
Ha. “Purr-fect first pitch,” says the announcer. Gold.
But the highlight of the night had to be the profoundly ridiculous photo of La Russa trying to do his best “Grumpy Cat” face, although the Diamondbacks did tweet the following “Grumpy Cat”-inspired summary of the ballgame, which wasn’t too shabby either.
Apparently, even a big win over a division rival isn't enough to make @RealGrumpyCat smile. pic.twitter.com/YfSLMUmMjk
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 8, 2015
Heh. Grumpy Cat.
[H/T Big League Stew, top i08 Sep 2015 06:48:15 -0400http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/meow_tony_la_russa_mugs_for_camera_in_photo_op_with_grumpy_cat_pic/s1_8061_19493779
http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/meow_tony_la_russa_mugs_for_camera_in_photo_op_with_grumpy_cat_pic/s1_8061_19493779Meow: Tony La Russa mugs for camera in photo-op with ‘Grumpy Cat’ (pic)http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/meow_tony_la_russa_mugs_for_camera_in_photo_op_with_grumpy_cat_pic/s1_8061_19493779http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png